How do you debug your game engine code?

1 Choose your debugger

The first step to debug your game engine code is to choose a debugger that suits your needs and preferences. A debugger is a software tool that allows you to inspect, modify, and control the execution of your code, as well as set breakpoints, watch variables, and evaluate expressions. Some of the most popular debuggers for game development are Visual Studio, GDB, LLDB, and WinDbg. Each debugger has its own features, advantages, and limitations, so you should experiment with different options and find the one that works best for you and your project.

2 Use logging and assertions

Another useful technique for debugging your game engine code is to use logging and assertions. Logging is the process of recording messages or data about the state and behavior of your code to a file, a console, or a screen. Logging can help you track the flow of your code, identify errors, and monitor performance. Assertions are statements that check if a condition is true or false, and if false, trigger an error or a breakpoint. Assertions can help you verify your assumptions, validate your input, and catch bugs early. You can use logging and assertions in combination with your debugger to get more information and feedback about your code.

3 Reproduce and isolate the error

Once you have detected an error in your game engine code, you need to reproduce and isolate it. Reproducing the error means recreating the exact conditions and steps that caused it to occur, so that you can observe and analyze it consistently. Isolating the error means finding the specific line or function of code that is responsible for it, so that you can fix it without affecting other parts of your code. To reproduce and isolate the error, you can use techniques such as testing different scenarios, changing variables, commenting out code, and using breakpoints and watches.

4 Use a systematic approach

When debugging your game engine code, it is important to use a systematic approach that will help you find and fix the error quickly and effectively. Such an approach involves defining the problem precisely, gathering as much information as you can about the error and its context, formulating hypotheses about possible causes and solutions, testing your hypotheses by modifying your code and observing the results, evaluating your results and confirming or rejecting your hypotheses, and repeating the process until you find and fix the error. Doing so can help you avoid common debugging pitfalls, such as guessing, jumping to conclusions, or making unnecessary changes.

5 Learn from your errors

The last tip for debugging your game engine code is to learn from your errors. Debugging is not only a way to fix your code, but also an opportunity to improve your skills, knowledge, and understanding of your code and your engine. By learning from your errors, you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future, discover new features or functionalities of your engine or tools, optimize your code and performance, and enhance your creativity and problem-solving abilities. To do so, document your errors, review them, and share them with others.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?